Present: Dr Esmond Birnie MLA (Chairman)
Mr Mervyn Carrick MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Dr Ian Adamson MLA
Mr Michael Coyle MLA
Mr John Dallat MLA
Ms Michelle Gildernew MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr Roger Hutchinson MLA
Prof Monica McWilliams MLA

In Attendance: Dr Andrew Peoples
Mr Colin Jones
Mr Paul Stitt
Mr David Douglas

Apologies: None.

Apologies are detailed above.

Agreed as amended. Proposed: Mr Carrick. Seconded: Mr Dallat.

None.

Members noted a written brief from DEL on their draft Budget 2003/04 detailing their bids to the process; the bids met in the draft Budget and the impact on delivery of those bids which had not been met.

Members noted correspondence from the Association of University Teachers (AUT) highlighting their concerns at the lack of funding for university research and development in the draft Budget. Dr Birnie declared that he was currently a member of the AUT.

Members noted the response from the Confederation of British Industry in Northern Ireland on the Executive's Position Report.

Members also noted a written brief from DEL, detailing their bids and easements in the September 2002 Monitoring Round.

The Chairman stated that the Committee had still not received the full Needs and Effectiveness Evaluation of Vocational Education and Training.

The Committee was briefed by Dr R Davison, Mr G O'Doherty and Mr J Russell from DEL on the Department's draft Budget 2003/04. The following issues were raised by members:

2.25pm. Prof McWilliams joined the meeting.

• how DEL would fund the Educational Maintenance Allowances if they were approved by the Executive;
• DEL's capital grants to Further Education Colleges and to the universities to partly fund refurbishments;

• the effect on the implementation of the Essential Skills Strategy of DEL's bids not being met in this area for 2004/05 and 2005/06;

• progress towards the implementation of a new scheme to replace Individual Learning Accounts;
• how insufficient funding for university research and development and for the review of postgraduate awards would affect progress; and
• how DEL was continuing to improve access for the disabled.

Officials undertook to determine why the Committee had not yet seen the Needs and Effectiveness Evaluation Report and to provide the Departmental Reform Plan as soon as possible.

Officials then briefed the Committee on their bids and easements in the September 2002 Monitoring Round. The following issues were debated:

• the 'inescapable pressures' behind the bid for £2m for the further education capital budget;
• further detail on the £443,000 bid to meet a one-off VAT cost on the BIFHE Millfield PFI contract which it was clamed would reduce the costs of the project over its entire lifetime, officials agreed to forward a detailed written brief;
• why Enterprise Ulster was surrendering £225,000 from a budget of approximately £5m;

• the reasons behind the surrender of £4m and £3m from the Jobskills and New Deal programmes respectively;
• the potential effect on service delivery of DEL filling vacant posts whilst there is insufficient finances to meet Departmental Running Costs;
• the further adverse effect on university research and development of the bid for £1m in this area being unsuccessful.

The Chairman stated that the Minister for Finance and Personnel's statement on the outcome of the September 2002 Monitoring Round was currently scheduled for Tuesday 22 October 2002.

Members agreed to return to their consideration of DEL's draft budget for 2003/04 at a future meeting, to enable them to respond to the Committee for Finance and Personnel by Friday 25 October 2002.

The Clerk was directed to seek further information on the public money allocated to university research and development in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Mr Dallat indicated that the two universities could be approached for this information. The Chairman reminded the Committee of a similar briefing given to members about a year ago.

Action: Clerk

Members noted the report on the evaluation of the Worktrack programme from DEL and agreed to seek the Equality Impact Assessment, which was to be carried out on the programme, before deciding on the way forward.

Action: Clerk

Members noted a further response from DEL on the Modern Apprenticeship programme. It was also noted that the programme was currently under review and that the Committee had agreed to request an oral briefing after the review was completed in December 2002.

Members considered the response from Hugh J. O'Boyle in relation to Keyskills requirements in National Vocational Qualifications and agreed to forward this to the Department for a written response.

Action: Clerk

Members noted the following correspondence:

• the Civic Forum's Report: 'Can Do Better - Educational Disadvantage in the Context of Lifelong Learning;'
• correspondence from an individual in relation to the examinable component of an end of course essay;

Members agreed to return this piece of correspondence to the Clerk at the end of the meeting.

Whilst it was recognised that, under the Assembly's Standing Orders, the Clerk was obliged to put all correspondence received in front of the Committee, members agreed that, in the future, correspondence to be noted should be listed and that individual members could access the documents in the Committee Office if required.

Action: Clerk

• information from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on membership of public bodies in Northern Ireland; and
• information from the Committee of the Centre in relation to the Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites Bill.

Members considered Statutory Rule 272/2002, which had been laid in the Business Office, together with a Report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

Members noted the Examiner's reference to the tardiness of the Department, in that the Rule was not laid until after it had come into operation.

It was agreed that:

The Clerk was directed to inform the Business Office and notify the Department.

Members considered three draft Codes of Practice from DEL in relation to:

• Industrial Action Ballots and Notice to Employers;
• Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures; and
• Redundancy Consultation and Procedures.

Mr T Devine and Mrs P Stringer from DEL, assisted the Committee in their deliberations.

Members noted that the Minister would seek the Assembly's approval for the three draft Codes of Practice and agreed that the Chairman should support the draft Codes in the Assembly.

The Chairman stated that representatives of non-European Union workers in Northern Ireland had offered to brief the Committee. The Clerk was directed to organise an oral briefing session to also include the views of both employers and labour agencies.

Action: Clerk

The Chairman informed members that he had written to the Chairman of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to seek the views of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in relation to delays in compensation payments to asbestosis sufferers.

The Chairman informed members that he would be speaking at the Northern Ireland Economic Conference on Wednesday 9 October 2002 and a press release would be issued.

Members noted that the Consideration Stage of the Employment Bill was on Monday 7 October 2002. Members noted further amendments to the Bill received from DEL.

Members agreed to seek further information from DEL on theone-off VAT cost on the BIFHE Millfield PFI contract.

Action: Clerk

On Thursday, 10 October 2002 at 2.00pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

26 September 2002 / Menu